Working in NYC

Hey guys need some advice. So im 22 years old and plan on making my move to NYC from Florida in a year and a half when im done paying off my car. My main reason for going is just for the quality of places there and the fact that i love the city.

To any chefs there, what is the current average wage of a line cook? I know places like Eleven Madison pay shit, but what about like normal restaurants? Here the cost of living is high and a line cook makes anywhere from $10-$19 an hour.

If i could make 13-15 an hour in NYC i could definitely survive relatively easy since ill have a roomie and no major bills.

I have to LOL a little first. How do you know what people at Eleven make? Have you asked or know somebody that works there.

As for NYC as a whole, it's practically the same as everywhere is. I'd say 10-15 is a more realistic starting point. Cost of living is through the roof and traveling even from upper east side to midtown can be horrendous during the week.

I have to LOL a little first. How do you know what people at Eleven make? Have you asked or know somebody that works there.

As for NYC as a whole, it's practically the same as everywhere is. I'd say 10-15 is a more realistic starting point. Cost of living is through the roof and traveling even from upper east side to midtown can be horrendous during the week.

Source , I work here.

I have a friend fro the city who staged at Per Se & Eleven Madison and he has a friend who is a sous there, they pay like $8 an hour for cooks supposedly.

And yeah i know getting around there sucks sometimes but i have a bicycle and that will be my main transport besides the train there. The cost of living where im from is close to that of NYC so that wont be a big change for me.

Well I'd really like to know who the friend of your friend is. Maybe we could chat at staff meal I can assure you even the lowest on the chain make more than that.

Anywho, yea a bike and subway are your best bets. I take the train from CT myself, but know many people who hoof it or take the train. And I think you are underestimating the cost of living here. Where are you from in Florida? The only places I could imagine being even remotely as expensive is Jupiter island or south beach. Florida in general has a decent living cost.

Well you know how things are, maybe he misunderstood but he was a city boy and I trusted him haha.. I would love to work there even for $5 an hour haha!!

And I'm from Key West, it has one of the highest costs of living in the country. I'm not going there to get rich, I want to spend my time there getting my ass kicked and working for the best. I know it will be hard and a struggle, but that's what I need right now

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef Torrie

Well I'd really like to know who the friend of your friend is. Maybe we could chat at staff meal I can assure you even the lowest on the chain make more than that.

Anywho, yea a bike and subway are your best bets. I take the train from CT myself, but know many people who hoof it or take the train. And I think you are underestimating the cost of living here. Where are you from in Florida? The only places I could imagine being even remotely as expensive is Jupiter island or south beach. Florida in general has a decent living cost.

Depends on experience. I got either $8 or maybe $8.50 at my first job out of college (not culinary school) with 2yrs experience (not NYC). It was a very well known chef at a michelin star restaurant. I didn't stay long cause I couldn't pay the bills. A lot of people were interns/externs who's parents were paying for rent/expenses and there was always a line of interns ready to work, so wages were low if you didn't already have good experience. Although if you stick around and are good, you'll get raises. But that was only this particular restaurant. This was 2-3 yrs ago, and a lot of places were offering closer 10 at the time. But I think if you have decent experience you can probably start around $12 for most places. I don't know for sure, but places that have you work 60hrs a week regularly may pay a bit less per hour than those that are closer to 40, but again I don't really know.

Moving from LA 7 years ago I thought I'd get a higher pay rate because it is so expensive to live in NYC. Not the case. I made 11 an hour and eventually became sous, but even that salary wasn't a lot. Thing about NYC is you go for the experience, not to make a living. surviving on 12 or 13 bucks an hour is totally possible. You just have to do it right.